5 comments about D. Wayne : The High-Rolling and Fast Times of America's Premier Horse Trainer.

1. A great read, not just for the racing enthusiast, but anyone who loves sports. D.Wayne Lukas wasn't just a horse trainer, he was a motivator as well, and this book highlights his success with horses and people.



2. A true shame. What purports to be a definitive biography is mostly a paraphrase of several articles and passages from other books.
   No trainer in this lifetime influenced the Sport of Kings more than D. Wayne Lukas. His story deserves the treatment of a quality writer and editor. However, the team that conditioned this offering either lacked those qualities (which I honestly doubt), or they simply didn't care to get it right. The book is filled with inaccuracies and misspellings. It is disjointed and frustrating to read.
   Readers will find themselves constantly composing a letter to the publisher in their mind. If you are thinking of purchasing this book, wait for the softcover. Instead try Joe Drape's recent account of the triple crown series or try to find Sports Illustrated articles about Lukas.
   Specious at best.



3. While a worthy topic, the incredible number of inacuracies (e.g., in the same paragraph, both Jeff Fell and Jacinto Vasquez were listed as the rider of Pleasant Colony in the '81 KY Derby. Nevermind that the rider was actually Jorge Velasquez...) make the book a frustrating and difficult read. The author also repeatedly calls colts "she." Wayne Lukas is a very complex figure, both loved and scorned. His tale deserves to be told, but it should be done much better than this.



4. Save your money...This book isn't worth the paper in which it is written.



5. Inaccuracies aside and there are a lot of them (Northern Dancer being referred to as Native Dancer, etc.) This book is poorly written, nonlinear storytelling being a major fault. The author jumps back in forth in time when discussing horses and races. There also is nothing really new revealed in this book as it's mostly a rehash of already well published facts. Finally it doesn't help that Wayne comes off as humorless and unsympathetic here as he does in real life.

5 comments about Evel Knievel: An American Hero.

1. The biography is detailed, interesting, and there are many pictures. I don't know what "lazy writing" means, but my focus was on the man, not the author.
   
   Clearly Evel knew his faults, but he found a way to make a living knowing his physical health would suffer and he'd be in pain for the rest of his life. His last stunt was taking a baseball bat to his promoter, who was also his lawyer, a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life. (The lawyer is going after what remains of Evel's estate.)



2. I agree with a previous reviewer who said this was a completely lazily-written book. Whether or not you approve of Evel's behavior, his life was anything but boring. Yet the tedious and poor writing style of this author tells Knievel's story in a way that's about as interesting as reading the White Pages upside down. It's unbelievable that a national publisher would print a book this sloppy. In addition to being poorly-written, it appears as though no one even proofread it. Repetition and typos abound. And it seems to be based on not much more than re-hashed facts from a few feature articles written about Knievel in big magazines in the 1970s (and maybe the foggy recollection of the hokey Evel Knievel biopic from 1971). Grammatically, this is possibly the most poorly-written book I have read in my adult life. As far as telling a story in general, it gets even worse marks. I can't believe someone got paid to write this. It really is THAT bad. And I LIKE Evel Knievel!



3. I can't say the writing is bad, just the subject. An American Hero ? A womenizing, boozing, petty thief and con-man a hero, I don't think so, probably a fun guy to hang out with.. but no hero.



4. Nobody's demanding Boswell's Life of Johnson here, but Collins has fashioned a hazily-remembered, lazily-written biography of one of the 1970s most singular public figures. Where's the index or bibliography? Where's the list of sources? Who proofread this book (the word "athlete" is misspelled -- on the back cover, yet!)? I never thought I'd utter this phrase in public, but: Evel Knievel deserves better.



5. Evel Knevel has written a lively and engaging book that tells about his halcyon days stealing money from people cracking safes in the 1960s.The cops knew I did it, he says, but never caught him. Now he and his son charge the culturally deprived a lot of money to see motorcycle stunts. What a country! What a hero!

3 comments about All Things Being Equal: The Autobiography of Lenny Moore.

1. Residing in Reading, PA my entire life, I was anxious to read this book. What a disappointment! Lenny Moore portays himself as a victim throughout the book. However, it is clear that he was an underachiever from the start. If you want to read a "poor me" I'm a victim of racism book, this would be the book for you. If you want to read about sports or about something inspirational, forget this piece of garbage.



2. I was never a huge Colt or Lenny Moore fan just because I dont follow the team or it's past. However, Lenny did an excellent Job of discussing the risks of not completing College, discussing the disparity between Black and white athletes after their game playing days are over, and how he dealt with it. He is not the first to discuss the subtile rift in locker rooms between black and white football players in the 50's and 60's. However, this is the first book I read that talked about what the white players felt about how the black players were treated. Great book that flows smoothly without getting into the sex, drugs, and other excesses of pro football players.



3. THIS IS THE STORY OF LENNY MOORE FORMER BALTIMORE COLT GREAT. THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOOK COVERS HIS CAREER WITH COLTS. INCLUDED ARE SOME STORIES ABOUT HIS JOHNNY U, WEEB, AND MANY MORE. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF BIG DADDY AND LENNY'S THOUGHTS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH DON SHULA. LENNY ALSO COVERS HIS LIFE AFTER THE COLTS AND THE PREDJUDICE AGAINST BLACKS THAT WAS EVEN WORSE BACK IN THE 1950'S AND 60'S. LENNY HAS ENDURED ALOT OF PAIN IN HIS PRIVATE LIFE (DEATH OF 2 WIFES AND ONE OF HIS CHILDREN). BUT HE CONTINUES TO BE A CLASS ACT. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL COLT FANS WHO SAW LENNY PLAY.

No comments about Homegrown Hokie: A Tribute to Frank Beamer (Tales).

3 comments about I Remember Dale Earnhardt: Personal Memories of and Testimonials to Stock Car Racing's Most Beloved Driver, As Told by the People Who Knew Him Best (I Remember).

1. I started watching NASCAR in the late 80's and instantly became a Dale Earnhardt fan. I followed his career and road the roller coaster of good years and bad years. I learned everything I could possibly learn about the man. When I read this book, I learned so much more!
   
   It's one thing to be a fan and to read about or hear about your driver. But to hear personal stories from the people who were closest to him and knew him best is just a whole other world. With stories from Ken Shcrader, Jeff Gordon, Bud Moore, Junior Johnson, Humpy Wheeler and many more NASCAR personalities that knew him intimately, this is definitely THE essential Dale Earnhardt book. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, if you only read one book about Dale Earnhardt, make it this one!



2. Just by reading this book. You can tell that Dales memories will always live on forever. If you a HUGE Dale Earnhardt fan like myself, then this book is for you.

   *We love you Dale. Your memories will always live in my heart til I see you in Heaven, racing on the tracks of gold. God bless.*




3. In the book, I expected a lot more stories and anecdotes from racers; I could barely find any. But that's a minor detail. I am a hard-core Dale Earnhardt fan, and this book was very heart-warming. I love all the personal stories of Dale! I haven't gotten a chance to look at it all yet, but it's a wonderful book. I was not a huge racing fan (like I am now) when most of Dale Earnhardt's terrific achievements took place, and this book took me to that land. I'd like to thank whoever's book this is, because all I wanted was a book of tidbits like this, and now I have it. I completely treasure this book. If you are only looking for stories from racers like Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton (some of my personal faves) this may not be right for you, but if you luv the Earnhardts as much as I do, don't hesitate.

5 comments about Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of "Extra Benefits", Frank Sinatra and Winning It All.

1. Jerry Tarkanian seems to be a decent, likeable guy, evidenced by both his autobiography's narrative voice, and the "shark tales" inside. Tark is laid-back, self-deprecating, funny, and respectful in his tone and delivery, and his life's story shows he could get along with of all kinds of people, and was a valuable friend to have: everyone is a "good guy", with some rare exceptions, and Tark wanted to coach all of the kids and take all the adults out for a meal and a round of drinks.
   
   Tark's larger than life, yet down-home, blue-collar personality developed by rising from a difficult home life (tough Armenian background, father died at 10, little money) to earn a series of coaching successes virtually right out of the gate- the guy never had a losing season at any level, and boasts an overall career record of 988-228 (.813). And coaching basketball was not originally a noble calling for Tark- it instead represented sort of a path of least resistance for an athletic guy whose grades were mediocre and who didn't want a desk job.
   
   Coach's genius lies in recruiting, and most of the book recounts his amusing and clever escapades trying to bring talent to his schools. Tark recognized early on to utilize junior colleges to his advantage, to target niche players, and to embrace black athletes that other schools sadly (and suicidally) avoided during the 1960s. He visited kids and their families at their homes, regardless of how tough the neighborhoods were. He wasn't easily dissuaded by a kid's poor grades or legal troubles, without first assessing his character and potential. He was the consummate Las Vegas host, and had the whole city at his disposal (including, to a degree, Sinatra, who actually made a couple of recruiting visits for Tark), and could convincingly show visitors the kind of time they could expect to have by playing for UNLV. His list of contacts throughout the US was outstanding - he had high school coaches and scouts everywhere feeding him guys, and all the right jucos to park them in if they needed to cool their heels first.
   
   Of course, Tark had his scrapes with the NCAA, and seemed unfairly targeted, particularly once recruiting rules got tougher. He was open and honest about his troubles- and his disdain for the NCAA investigators- and didn't seem to be whitewashing events. For one, he won a $2.5 million settlement against the NCAA, as retribution for their misguided hyper-vigilance of his program. And he also is forthcoming about where he technically bent the rules. He gives the impression that overstepping NCAA boundaries while recruiting (including, for instance, buying a kid a sandwich or magazine from your own pocket) is like speeding or web-surfing at work: everyone does it to at least a minor extent, and you only get caught by flagrantly abusing the system, or because someone with ulterior motives is paying too close attention to the little stuff. It seemed to be the latter for Tark, but a fighting spirit and the loyalty he inspired in those around him meant the system never had him beat.



2. I am a long time basketball fan, especially college BB. I remeber all the names the Tark mentions in the book and it was very enjoyable to read, I couldn't put it down. I loved the "inside" information the book gives as the average fan doesn't always know about what really goes on. I am huge Al McGuire fan so that was fun also. I would urge any basketball fan to buy this book.



3. Great book. I was in LV, NV during Tark's tenure at UNLV. Tark originally got crosswise with the NCAA when he criticized them in his basketball column at Long Beach State. The NCAA never let go after that. UNLV administration unfortunately bought into the argument that a school can either be academically or athletically based and never understood the vision of a powerful synergistic relationship (i.e. USC, Notre Dame, TX, etc., etc.). The administration and anti-Tark boosters basically invited the NCAA in for an audit that took years. The end result was a severely truncated basketball dynasty and a huge hit in academic and adminstrative credibilty from UNLV's President Maxson on down. UNLV has not achieved significant academic standing and and has never recovered athletically. However, Tark is $2,000,000.00 richer secondary to prevailing over the NCAA in a court of law, in addition to his 1990 NCAA basketball court championship.



4. I have not and will not bother to read this book, as I would not trust any of the facts. As an example, Wetzel recently (Yahoo!, 4/2/06) published an article bashing the UCLA basketball program. The entire basis for this was a "quote" that Wetzel attributes to Bill Walton. Nothing could be further from thr truth!
   
   In his article, he states the quote was written by Walton ("Those quotes come from none other than Bill Walton, maybe the greatest Bruin of them all, in his 1978 book `On the Road with the Portland Trailblazers'"). This is false. The book was written by Jack Scott. In the Author's Note, Scott wrote: "Bill never asked to read even one page of the manuscript - never mind the entire manuscript - before it went to the printer. Consequently, I am solely responsible for the book's content. You should not automatically assume that Bill agrees with all of the opinions I express throughout the book..."
   
   There are numerous other examples. When called on his error, Wetzel indicated that HE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK he quotes, so could not confirm or deny the error!! Horrifying! Despite being called out, he has never made a correction to the story nor printed any retractions.
   
   He is an untrustworthy writer, and clearly makes up and misrepresents the facts to sell his product.
   
   BEWARE!



5. Boy, I was a huge UNLV fan while Tark was there, and I loved that team that beat Duke by 30 in the finals. Thus, I bought the book, and I enjoyed it. In virtually every chapter, there is a funny story or a simply outrageous story that I'm sure is true. Tark tells his story, and he seems to hold nothing back. Tark is truly unique.
   
   My problem with the book is the Tark portrays himself as a "victim" of some sort of witch-hunt by the NCAA. I've no doubt that the NCAA was unfair-grossly unfair-to Tark. Yet I grow weary of self-proclaimed "victims."
   
   Yet I suggest you buy it and read it. You'll laugh because it is funny.
   
   And if you were a huge UNLV fan like I was, it will bring back some good memories.
   
   Remember the incredible defense that Stacey Augmon played? If not, this book will bring back memories such as Stacey, et al.

5 comments about The Father of Judo: A Biography of Jigoro Kano (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior).

1. Available for 5 years now, one can still pick up a First Edition copy in most book stores. Mr. Watson does a fine job at basically presenting Kano Jigoro to a public that is especially starved of information about the man and his many accomplishments, on and off the mat.
   
   However, from the perspective of good biography and as an historical work, it does not go nearly deep enough into Kano's life and, frustratingly so, can (and does) leave the reader with more questions than answers about this remarkable man's life.
   
   That said, there is so very little that has been written about Kano that I grudgingly rate it at 4 stars. For this reason alone, I think it belongs on the library shelf of any self-respecting judoka. Mr. Watson, however, could have given this subject a much more extensive treatment.



2. For most judo students, this will provide an excellent introduction to the founder of judo. Prior to this, there was very little available on the life of Jigoro Kano and the majority of judo students only knew Kano from a question sure to be on the promotion test and perhaps a picture in the practice hall. I, for one, would like to see Brian Watson go back to his notes and provide us with a much more detailed tome.



3. The book provides some historical information on Kano's life but I was very disappointed. The book went through Kano's life very quickly and failed to cover large segments of his life. It provided good detail in some areas but was woefully lacking in other areas. Plus, the book was written on a very low level, practically at a child's level. In addition, it was obvious that the author did not have much to contribute because he filled the book at the end with tournament results. How this had anything to do with the subject is beyond me. It is a necessary book to have but I expected better.



4. I was disappointed with the lack of scholarly research in this book. There are only six references listed, none of which are Kano's original writings. For someone as important in the modern Olympic movement as the author depicts Kano, there must be some of Kano's work extant. The author provides a large number of quotes and conversations, several from letters Kano wrote, but does not provide sources for this. Most of the conversations seem stilted and forced. I can't say I gained much insight into Kano's philosophy and the development of Kodokan judo.



5. This book is valuable for providing little-known information about an important figure. Unfortunately, it is written at about an eighth-grade level. Those who read history seriously will be frustrated by the book's superficiality. It is difficult to determine what is documented and what is contrived for readability. The author states up front that he has created dialogue to make the book more interesting, but there is no way to tell which dialogue is created. For example, were those really Kano's last words? On the other hand, the photographs are terrific, and a time-line of events (at the end of the book) is very helpful.

4 comments about Lone Star J.R.: The Autobiography of Racing Legend Johnny Rutherford.

1. Overall, I liked this book. The story of JR's early racing days and his travels with Jim McElreath as they followed the IMCA circuit was good reading. In addition, the details of his 1966 Eldora crash and recovery as well as his experience driving the Smokey Yunick NASCAR Chevy in 1963 was very interesting. I would have liked more technical detail on what happened to his race cars to cause poor finishes at Indy in 1973, 1982, etc.



2. If you are a fan of Johnny Rutherford and racing in general, this is the book for you. The book gives insight from inside the racing world. It is a highly detailed account of Johnny's personal life and his racing career. I found his personal struggle to become a big time driver very interesting, as he started at a relatively late age for his era. It was also interesting for me to read his explanation of the many changes in racing and what was expected of a driver from his first race until his retirement. The candid comments and numerous photographs, make the reader fell like he has had a personal converstaion with J.R. himself. I believe almost anyone will enjoy this book.



3. If you are a fan of Johnny Rutherford and racing in general, this is the book for you. The book gives insight from inside the racing world. It is a highly detailed account of Johnny's personal life and his racing career. I found his personal struggle to become a big time driver very interesting, as he started at a relatively late age for his era. It was also interesting for me to read his explanation of the many changes in racing and what was expected of a driver from his first race until his retirement. The candid comments and numerous photographs, make the reader fell like he has had a personal converstaion with J.R. himself. I believe almost anyone will enjoy this book.



4. If you are a fan of Johnny Rutherford and racing in general, this is the book for you. The book gives insight from inside the racing world. It is a highly detailed account of Johnny's personal life and his racing career. I found his personal struggle to become a big time driver very interesting, as he started at a relatively late age for his era. It was also interesting to me to read his explanation of the many changes in racing and what was expected of a driver from his first race until his retirement. The candid comments and numerous photographs, make you fell like you've had a personal converstaion with J.R. himself. I believe almost anyone will enjoy this book.

5 comments about My Chess Career.

1. The seminal work of the Cuban genius who repeated the exploits of Morphy, suddenly bursting onto the European scene and annihilating the great masters who had hitherto dominated the international arena. This book captures the magic of Capablanca's early victory at San Sebastian 1911 and his second place - bowing only to Lasker - at St Petersburg 1914. All in all, 35 games are annotated by Capablanca in person with remarkable objectivity - bestowing praise and hurling criticism as and when required. Capablanca was a natural chess genius in the mould of Morphy, Kasparov and Fischer. He has been described as the Mozart of chess to Alekhine's Beethoven.
   Capa - as he was known - was born in Cuba in 1888, and by 1921 he was world champion, having disposed of Lasker in a match where the defending champion could not win a single game. Capa was virtually indestructible and it was only towards the end of his career in the late 1930's that the younger generation could begin to score consistent victories against him. Meanwhile his reputation for invincibility remains in the annals of chess.



2. 
   A great book that gives us the chance to known a little more about the events of the life of one of the greatest chess players of all time. Written one year before he became world champion, this nice book describes in Capablanca's own words 35 of his greatest games at the time. Among Capablanca opponents in these games one finds Alekhine, Niemzowitch, Janowski, Yates, Marshall, and Berstein among many others.
   
   Each game is fully commented and annotated by Capablanca himself, and you can find suggestion that can help improve any reader's game in almost every paragraph.
   
   Capablanca includes at the end of the book a short concluding essay on the basic precepts of opening, middle-game and end-game strategy.



3. Sometimes it's surprising how well words are able to capture imagery and do real life experiences justice. In the wonderfully descriptive and magnificently apt work, 'my chess career' the Cuban chess whiz Capablanca is able to do just that. One can feel the complex mind processes going on inside a genius's realm of thought as Capablanca annotates numerous games. Although my praises for his ability to make the reader feel that he's almost part of the experience are plentiful, I believe the writing is at times slightly too 'wordy' and although it's not a button I would like to push, I just have to say sometimes I felt that a point came when the word 'exaggeration' became relevant.
   
   By the end of the read if anything the reader finds himself with a newfound respect for the genius involved in a game like chess and those who play it. The book will give you an insight into the human minds capability, a truly remarkable experience.
   
   I would recommend this book highly to all those who have remote interests in the art of chess and its related functions.



4. The work sets forth classic chess plays including openings and
   important manipulations with virtually every piece on the Board.
   This book is a "must read" for a serious chess player. The power
   of the Queen is demonstrated in closing the game in combination
   with the King piece. A serious chess player would try to replicate a number of the classic plays depicted in order to
   gain more experience with the game. The book is written
   for a fairly sophisticated chess player/enthusiast. It is worth
   the price for serious students of the game.



5. Out of the 20+ chess titles in my library, My Chess Career, by Capablanca, remains my favorite.
   The first hand explanations from the eventual world champion are useful, but sometimes abrupt. Nonetheless, the value of any of his commentary, in combination with games showing his historical development and clean elegant playing style, is simply a joy to read.
   This book is more historical in intent than educational, yet my playing improved more through reading this chess book than any other, including those intended as educational.
   Not meant for the beginner, yet, not much skill is required to enjoy it. A great read.

5 comments about A Slender Thread: Escaping Disaster in the Himalaya (Adrenaline).

1. On one level 'A Slender Thread: Escaping Disaster in the Himalayas' is a standard mountain expedition book, with the focus on Steven Venables' own experience. But throughout there is a dark undercurrent of premonition and doubt. Venables has a bad feeling about the expedition from the start : "there was a sense of unease, even doom when I set off for India". There is also a sense of futility, that the golden age of mountain exploration is long past, as he implicitly compares past expeditions to the area (the Panch Chuli group near the border of India and Nepal) with the one he is on. Gone is the conviction of purpose and the "gentlemanly camaraderie" of earlier times. In fact Venables shows himself to be anything but gentlemanly on this trip. Often out of sorts, half-wishing he were back home with his wife and child, Venables indulges in tantrums and verbally attacks Chris Bonington, the team leader, when Bonington suggests retreat..

   As for the accident, it is the breaking of the Slender Thread that all mountaineers depend on at many time during a climb. A well-tested anchor pulls out below the top of Panch Chuli V, sending Venables on a steep fall that breaks both his legs and which he is lucky just to survive. This combination of bad and good luck, and his utter dependence on his companions for making it down the mountain, is the real story of this expedition for Venables as he recognizes that in climbing he is gambling with more than just his own life.

   This is my least favorite of the three book by Venables I've read, though I did enjoy it. There is little of the excitement and freshness of 'Painted Mountains' or the combination of great accomplishment and fascinating route finding in 'Everest: Alone at the Summit'. However, it raises troubling questions about mountain climbing and faces them directly, and these questions, along with the detailed description of a remote and rarely climbed range, make this a book worth reading.




2. This book is well written, but much of it is decidedly dull. The author writes with all the passion of a dead fish. There are, however, some interesting passages about the history of a remote section of the Himalayas known as the Pancha Chuli massif which are actually five peaks close to India's border with western Nepal.

   It is to this region that the author went in 1992 as part of an expedition led by world reknowned British climber, Chris Bonnington. Quite frankly, the author makes himself out to be a less than ideal climbing partner. He apparently had choice words for everyone, including Chris Bonnington. He is lucky that they are apparently better men than he, or he would never have survived his accident, a three hundred foot fall 19,000 feet up the mountain. But for his fellow expeditioners, the author would still be up there, a silent, frozen reminder to other climbers of the peril that may sometimes await one while climbing.

   His account of what happens both before and after his accident, and upon his return home, as well as what occurs on his next expedition, gives the reader a measure of the author as a person. There are certainly those who may find him wanting. Yet, notwithstanding his readily apparent, personal shortcomings, his dispassionate account of his travail high up on a remote Himalayan peak is still a worthwhile read, if you are a devotee of mountaineering literature. If you are not, deduct one star from my rating.




3. This is one of the most cliche-ridden, naval-gazing climbing stories I've read in a long, long time. I didn't even know an audience still existed for this kind of well-worn mountaineering pablum. The story is right out of a computer format: Stephen Venables goes on a climb, gets hurt, misses his wife and kids, and needs to be rescued so he can get back and see them. [...]I think I've read this story about a hundred times before, usually by more honest observers.



4. I am not sorry I read ths book. Venables is a fine writer--one of the best in his genre working today. Having read one too many accounts of the Everest region (and a number of books on the west, K2, region), I appreciate Venables's description of the less-written-about middle Himalaya. The writer's account of the Panch Chuli climb itself is also fine.

   Unfortunately, after Venables's accident, there is little left to sustain the narrative. He simply sits around in his tent with his two partners, discussing food and British lit., waiting for the helicopter to come rescue him. In reality, I'm glad his rescue was easier than, say, Joe Simpson's was in Peru, but it makes for some rather boring reading.

   To sum, the book is well worth reading, but expect a let down around two-thirds of the way through.




5. Overall, I found this book to be a good look into Himilayan climbing. My only complaint was that it was written in British English and is a little difficult to read. The climbing terms are a little techincal as well. Being a non-climber, I sometimes can't picture what the author is describing when using climbing lingo.

   Beyond that, it seems like a good book, not quite like Karkauer's or Boukreev's books.